CELTIC Football Club have paid tribute to former Hoops ace Jim Brogan who died early this morning.

The Parkhead side honoured the 74-year-old, who was battling dementia, by remembering his finest moments with the Hoops.

In a statement the club said: "As a player, Jim Brogan is perhaps the definition of ‘unsung hero’.

"He played 341 times for Celtic, scoring nine goals and playing his part in winning 14 honours with the club during a 12-year period.

"He made his debut as far back as 1963, but it wasn’t until the 1968/69 season that he could be considered a first-team regular."

Read more: Celtic legend Jim Brogan dies after dementia battle

It added: "He could rightly be considered an integral part of the club’s nine-in-a-row success, playing in seven of those nine championship triumphs, while there were four Scottish Cups and three League Cups to boast of.

"He followed in the footsteps of his older brother, Frank, who had joined Celtic in 1960, and the two brothers were in the same team when Jim made his debut for the club.

"Frank did not enjoy the longevity at Celtic that Jim did, and he left in 1964 after making 48 appearances and scoring 17 goals for the club."

The club described Jim's career as the reward for "hard-work, perseverance and plenty of patience".

It continued: "As a defender he was someone that relished the physical challenges of the game, such as the memorable European Cup semi-final triumph over Leeds United at Hampden in 1970. And in 1971, his outstanding performances were recognised when he was runner-up to Martin Buchan as the Scottish Player of the Year.

Read more: Celtic legend Jim Brogan dies after dementia battle

"In 1975, aged 31, and with increasing competition for his place, Jim Brogan eventually left Celtic. Jock Stein handed him the captaincy for his final game, the Glasgow Cup final match against Rangers, on May 10, 1975, which finished 2-2.

"The game also celebrated Glasgow’s 800th birthday and both teams shared the trophy. Typically, he finished the match nursing a broken rib. His next destination would be Coventry City, spending 18 months there, before moving back north for a spell with Ayr United to finish his career.

"He remained shy of the limelight, both as a player and after he retired from the game, though he would enjoy more success as a businessman in the years after he hung up his boots.

"The thoughts of everyone at Celtic Park are with the family and friends of Jim Brogan at this sad time."

As previously reported by the Evening Times, the former defender passed away around 1.30am surrounded by his family.